Several of us are at the Queensland Newsagents’ Federation State Conference in Brisbane today, supporting the good work of the QNF and helping newsagents with questions. Our Managing Director, Mark Fletcher, is also speaking at the conference on the future of newsagencies. His presentation will include an outline of the very latest benchmark sales data comparing newsagent sales performance for January through March 2010 with 2009.

In supporting the QNF State Conference, Tower continues its support for key newsagent associations and demonstrates its commitment to this channel.

Tower Systems serves in excess of 1,650 newsagents, well over 50% of all newsagents with a computer system.

The free retail business performance analysis service we offer helps participating retailers see their business through fresh eyes. Checking in recently with one participant from a year ago, we found that the free service had a marked increase in sales and an equally marked decrease in dead stock.

In undertaking the service, Tower Systems analyses business performance data at a deep level. This results in a thorough report for the business owners and, sometimes, a face to face meeting to discuss business performance.

While each analysis takes hours to complete, the company considers it a worthwhile investment. It adds to understanding of how the software is used and provides Tower Systems with an opportunity to demonstrate deeper value from the Tower Advantage ^TM.

Tower Systems customers wishing to access the free business analysis service should, in the first instance, email support@towersystems…

Our latest newsagent rtail sales benchmark study is a wonderful opportunity for newsagents to add to a useful body of data which can help the whole newsagency channel understand sales trends:

I am undertaking another newsagent retail sales benchmark study comparing sales for January-March 2010 against January-March 2009.

Tower Newsagents can participate by sending a Monthly Sales Comparison report: tick the box to exclude home deliveries, and tick the box for a category breakdown. Set your first date range (on the left) to January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010 and the date range of the right to one year earlier.

Once the report is on the screen, click the PDF button to save this as a PDF, go into your email software and send a copy of the PDF to me at mark@towersystems.com.au. I’ll publish the benchmark results here and elsewhere so all newsagents can benefit.

NOTE: If you are running our latest software, you can click on the BENCHMARK icon on your desktop, enter the January through March date range and have the software do the rest.  If you have not used our direct email facilities - to email customer accounts or to email Gordon and Gotch supply changes, the software will ask for some email details from you.  This takes a few seconds to setup.

Non Tower newsagents can participate by emailing me for a copy of a spreadsheet template I have prepared.

As with past benchmarks, I expect to get data from between 100 and 120 newsagencies in the next week.  The results will provide an indication of sales performance year on year and give newsagents something with which to compare their businesses.

I am undertaking another newsagent retail sales benchmark study comparing sales for January-March 2010 against January-March 2009.

Tower Newsagents can participate by sending a Monthly Sales Comparison report: tick the box to exclude home deliveries, and tick the box for a category breakdown. Set your first date range (on the left) to January 1, 2010 to March 31, 2010 and the date range of the right to one year earlier.

Once the report is on the screen, click the PDF button to save this as a PDF, go into your email software and send a copy of the PDF to me at mark@towersystems.com.au. I’ll publish the benchmark results here and elsewhere so all newsagents can benefit.

NOTE: If you are running our latest software, you can click on the BENCHMARK icon on your desktop, enter the January through March date range and have the software do the rest.  If you have not used our direct email facilities - to email customer accounts or to email Gordon and Gotch supply changes, the software will ask for some email details from you.  This takes a few seconds to setup.

Non Tower newsagents can participate by emailing me for a copy of a spreadsheet template I have prepared.

As with past benchmarks, I expect to get data from between 100 and 120 newsagencies in the next week.  The results will provide an indication of sales performance year on year and give newsagents something with which to compare their businesses.